McGuireWoods is moving into the Texas market by combining operations with litigation boutique Nickens Keeton Lawless Farrell & Flack of Houston.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2011, Nickens Keeton will become the Houston office of the Richmond, Va.-based McGuireWoods. The partners in the new office include Jacks C. Nickens, Richard Keeton, Tom Farrell and Paul Flack, along with Ron Franklin, who is currently a partner in Franklin, Cardwell & Jones and will join Nickens Keeton on Dec. 1.